Double-digit sales increases in Japan, Greater China and Southeast and South Asia contributed to 15.1 percent sales growth in Japanese yen for ASICS’ performance running segments to approximately $1.5 billion and a 1.5 percent increase in the segment’s profitability to about $294.2 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30.

In North America, where Koichiro Kodama has recently been installed as the region’s president and CEO for ASICS, strong sales from performance running and the brand’s core performance sports category contributed to a 16 percent sales gain at ASICS North America to approximately $579.2 million for the nine months as the region’s year-over-year profitability increased by 33 percent to the equivalent of $12.5 million.

Meanwhile, ASICS Corp. has raised its annual outlook for the second time in three months. The Japanese company is now forecasting annual revenues equivalent to about $3.76 billion and a corresponding annual profit of approximately $343.1 million for the 12 months ending Dec. 31.

Mizuno Sees Improved Results

Japanese brand Mizuno posted a 22.5 percent increase in H1 sales in yen to approximately $124.0 million in the Americas region. Mizuno’s footwear sales rose nearly 25 percent to the equivalent of $237.5 million for the six months ended Sep. 30. The company did not disclose specific running shoe sales for the period.

Overall, Mizuno’s H1 operating profit rose by 14 percent in yen to the equivalent of $61.4 million as worldwide sales increased by 15 percent to approximately $755.4 million.